President Erdoğan Ready to Host Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks in Turkey Following Putin’s Proposal

President Erdoğan Ready to Host Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks in Turkey Following Putin’s Proposal

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced that Turkey is ready to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, following a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to Erdoğan’s office, during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Erdoğan said: “This opportunity must be seized… Turkey is ready to provide all kinds of support, including hosting negotiations, to help establish a ceasefire and lasting peace.”

Later, Erdoğan also spoke with Russian President Putin by phone and conveyed a similar message. Putin had earlier proposed that direct negotiations could begin in Istanbul starting this Thursday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the proposal as “a positive signal,” but emphasized that a 30-day ceasefire should begin on Monday.

Quoting Putin, Russian news agency Interfax reported: “I want to ask Erdoğan to facilitate the opportunity for talks in Turkey. I hope he will reaffirm his willingness to support us in the pursuit of peace.”

Putin claimed that a draft agreement had been reached during previous talks in Istanbul in 2022, but Western pressure prevented it from being implemented.

Erdoğan stated, “A window of peace has opened, and a full ceasefire could create the necessary atmosphere for peace negotiations.”

Analysts suggest that, given the current regional and global dynamics, Turkey could once again emerge as a key mediating power.